The Pathways Grief and Loss Center will host a free event on National Overdose Awareness Day; here’s how to register | Together

The Pathways Center for Grief and Loss will host a free event on Wednesday, August 31, during International Overdose Awareness Day.

International Overdose Awareness Day, celebrated around the world, is a day for family and friends to remember and reflect on loved ones who have died of a drug overdose.

The event is from 7-8:30pm at the Pathways Center for Grief and Loss, 4075 Old Harrisburg Pike, Mount Joy. Participation in the event is free, but registration is required. Find the registration form here, or register by calling 717-391-2413 or 800-338-3813; Registration deadline is Friday, August 26.

Dr. Bonnie Milos, a clinical professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania and an advocate for those suffering from opioid use disorders, will be the keynote speaker during the event.

Milos has published op-eds in the Phliladelphia Inquirer and USA Today to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of opioid use disorders. Milos is a naloxone overdose rescue teacher REVIVEme.com. She is also a dedicated advocate for those suffering from opioid use disorders through her work with the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission.

The disease also affected Milos personally; she lost both her sons to opioid use disorder. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos of loved ones who have died of an overdose to the event.

“The whole point of the event is to recognize the grief that people are going through,” says Dr. Patti Anualt, director of Pathways. “People come together and feel less alone. And it reduces the stigma of this type of death.”

Pathways, part of Hospice and Community Care, is a free resource available to all Lancaster County residents. Pathways hosts GRASP (Recovery After a Substance Passing), a free monthly group for families or individuals who have lost a loved one to an overdose. Pre-registration is required for participation. For more information contact Marjorie Paradise at paradise810@comcast.net or by calling 717-951-2720. The next meeting is September 20th from 6:30-8:00pm at the Pathways Grief and Bereavement Center in Mount Joy.

Pathways also hosts HERO (Heal, Endure, Restore and Overdose), a closed Facebook group where people can connect with others who have lost loved ones to overdose. Find the group on Facebook and answer three questions to join.

For more information and to contact Pathways, call 717-391-2413 or email pathways@hospicecommunity.org.